Everyone knows, Jordan Spieth has a chance this week to get closer to the grand slam than anyone since Tiger Woods. To do it he will have to figure out the oldest puzzle in golf, The Old Course at St. Andrews.
The way I see it the keys to winning an open at the Old Course are accurate driving that avoids the bunkers and if you have a slight miss it should be a slightly left miss, because way right will be OB or other disaster at TOC. Jordan fits that perfectly.
The second key is a very sharp lag putting game. Great ability to make comebackers doesn't hurt either but lag putting sometimes from 50 yards away, is crucial. Jordan is great at this.
The other keys is distance. This is where a spoiler could rain on Jordan Spieth's ticket tape parade. He is not the longest hitter on tour and the old course can be submitted by a thug with a huge driver. Obviously John Daly won here a million years ago (bet him to make the cut this week, he will and it is against the odds), Tiger was the longest hitter in the world when he won here in 2000 and Oosthuizen is probably the pound for pound longest driver on any tour outside LDA.
So if some freak of nature like Dustin Johnson has a good touch going with the putter he could reach -17 under and win. Bubba fits the bill, long as hell, plays a lefty fade to avoid right trouble and good touch but I don't think TOC likes golfers that curve the ball as much as he does, the angles are tough enough as it is.
Rickie will be a non factor, he doesn't really have it in him to keep the pedal down week to week.
So Jordan is my pick, Stenson and Oost round it out.
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